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 Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 3:47 pm
Auri hadn't been having a good week so far. She had just found out from her parents (who lived nearby) that her dear brother Tain had just run away from home. The news had almost crushed their mother, and undoubtedly their father as well.
The culprit, apparently, was Kaihdin. Again. Auri thought there must be something more to the story, so she planned on seeking the black and purple lioness out soon, if she hadn't already left the pridelands. The gold lioness wanted some answers, and a confrontation was in order.
Before that happened, however, she had approached one of her sons and told him about her and her mate's wish to have more children. Sulky Mivu had replied moodily, as usual, though she got the gist of receiving a slight approval from him. Why, she wasn't sure, but she was not about to deny a gift.
Now it was just time to find her mate and tell him this. And to have the chance to relax, finally. How stressful life had been.
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 4:00 pm
Sharifu was used to having a busy life, he'd always been around so many cubs when he was young himself, even now his family was full of young ones.. but there was a different way one looked at it when it was their own offspring. He was amused by the changes adolescence had brought on for his bunch, a bit worried (especially about Marini, who seemed to lack common sense sometimes) and excited. They were approaching the age when he had met Auri, he was curious about how their lives would turn out from here.
Of course, his own life was so far from over yet. He was from a large family and he wanted to have a large family, the idea of more cubs was very welcome with the lion. His general life was very cheerful, he had no idea of Auri's current mood. Heading back from a successful group hunt, he was keen on hanging out and chatting with whoever happened to be home or come home first.
When he arrived at their den, he settled down outside the rocks where he could watch the surrounding area lazily. Nobody was around but he would see anybody that came back.
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 4:13 pm
She was walking home from a day by the watering hole. That was what had caused such a sudden stressing of thoughts from before. She had been alone, away from everyone else, and had the opportunity to think about something else besides her family members. Besides worrying about them.
But then, it ended up that she was worrying about them anyway. So she hadn't really solved anything, but just increased her stress level. Auri sighed. Her plan to have a relaxing, easy day had been shot the moment she had arrived at the watering hole.
A familiar and much-loved smell entered her nose and she increased her pace to a quick trot. She arrived home much sooner, and to her delight, her gaze alighted on the sight of her mate. He was snoozing outside the den, near he rocks.
"Hey there, stranger," she greeted softly, walking up and standing over him with a smile on her face.
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 4:28 pm
Sharifu lay there for a while quietly, eventually resting his head against the rock beside him.. it was pleasantly warm. He was dozing off when the sound of pawsteps woke him up, his purple eyes blinked open and spotted the familiar figure of his mate immediately. He lifted up his head and gave his mane a shake, replying brightly, "Hello beautiful."
He reached out and batted at her paw, "Why don't you join me down here? How was your day?"
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 4:33 pm
Auri giggled and rubbed her paw over his mane playfully before laying down next to him, head comfortably on her paws. She thought for a moment before she spoke, shifting her weight slightly and flicking her tail.
"Today was okay," she allowed. "I was supposed to just go and relax over by the watering hole. Sunbathe a bit, not worry about family problems. But I started thinking about them anyway, and it all kind of came down on me. I hate stress." She stuck out her tongue and rolled her eyes. She licked the side of his face.
"What about you? How was your day?"
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Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 10:01 pm
Wasting no time in getting comfortable, Sharifu shuffled closer to Auri and rested his head on his own paws so he could still see her eyes. He let her finish before speaking up, finding it a good way to prevent interrupting and thus causing any trouble.
"My day was slow, nothing new and exciting happened," he said, then nudging Auri, "But what has you so stressed out now?" There were so many things that could stress a mother out, but then mothers were more than just mothers so there was.. just too much that could go wrong. His job, he felt, was to make it easier. Especially when he was not so stressed himself.
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Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 5:18 pm
She sighed and nosed him, slowly thinking of what she could say to him. "Tain ran away," Auri finally said softly. "My brother. He just came back home, and now he's gone again. I know it's killing my parents, to see him so like this. Granted, he wasn't there to grow up with, but he's still family."
She paused for a moment, glanced to the side, then looked back at her mate.
"They think she did something to him again," the lioness whispered, half-frightened for it to be true and half-hoping it was. Just so, if it was the latter, she could tear into that black lioness like no tomorrow. "Kaihdin. Mom think she said something to Tain and that caused him to run off again. I don't know where he went, Sharifu, and I'm worried."
Auri closed her eyes and scooted closer to her love. "But, there is good news. I talked to Mivu about the possibility of us having..more cubs. He wasn't too happy about it at first, which I understood, but he got used to the idea. I think he gave us his permission," she giggled half-heartedly.
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Posted: Fri May 08, 2009 10:09 pm
Sharifu knew enough about Auri's family to be concerned when she explained what the problem was, and enough about Auri and families in general. Some lions didn't need a close relationship to feel a connection to their siblings, their parents, their family. Gently, he reached out and put a paw on one of Auri's paws.
"Is there anything we can do? Has anybody asked the scouts?" he asked, "Is there anything I can do?" If he could help somehow, he would. The mood was lightened by the turn the conversation took, chuckling quietly and nuzzling against Auri when she laughed.
"Well, that's lucky," he laughed, "I think the girls will be more excited, at least."
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 9:56 am
Auri made a face and shook her head. "By now, he's long gone. Even if I could catch up to him, I don't know if it would be of any use to go after my brother and try to talk some sense into him. The whole thing has been a bit iffy from the start." She gave a sigh and closed her eyes for a moment. She wished the best for her brother and hoped he got well soon. It was a hard thing to lose love, and thankfully Auri had never had to deal with such a thing. Sharifu was the best thing that had happened to her.
"I guess the only thing we can do now is to comfort the rest of my family, my parents especially. I know they're taking this hard." She licked his cheek thankfully. He was so sweet to offer to help.
She giggled again. "Yes, I do think the girls would like little baby brothers and sisters to dote upon and watch and play with. And if not at the beginning, then certainly by the end will the cubs grow on our boys, too."
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 8:20 pm
"I'm sorry," he said honestly, reaching over and licking her nose when she closed her eyes, "We'll watch out for him, I'll go check with the scouts and see if anybody saw anything or see if they can keep an eye out. Better than nothing, I suppose."
He paused thoughtfully, imagining the girls playing with smaller siblings- his mind fleetingly going to the idea of how they were now old enough for it themselves and a protective grumble had to be suppressed.
"Maybe cubs would do everybody some good," he suggested, "More cubs, grandcubs, brothers and sisters.. it would keep everybody distracted." There was a hint of amusement in his tone, it was a silly idea but he also meant it. Cubs were a good reminder of how simple and fun things could be sometimes.
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 11:09 pm
She purred happily at his offer and nuzzled in closer to him. "Thank you, my love." To know that he cared about her so much that he would offer his services in any way to make sure her family was safe and, in that way, so was she, meant the world to the young lioness. She could never express in words how much she truly cared for him.
Auri couldn't help the giggle that escaped her and she licked her mate's chin at the sound. "Yes, well, as much as the girls might be distracted with the cubs, they could also begin to want some of their own. You never know what kind of affect new family members could have on already-existing ones."
She knew her mother and father would be thrilled, of course. They had been with the first litter. And her grandparents, and Sharifu's family as well. Whoever they were going to tell was bound to be happy for the pair again.
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Posted: Thu May 21, 2009 1:16 pm
He tried hard not to react when Auri commented on how the girls might decide they wanted their own cubs, but it was difficult. It was an alarming idea at first, they were young and it would be weird .. but that didn't mean he didn't want them to be happy, to have families..
"Well, that's bound to happen eventually," he said evenly, carefully. Then he couldn't help but chuckle, "We all better get used to having cubs around, then. That's exactly what I want, I think." Sharifu was from a large family, continuing to be part of one, having one of his own.. it was exciting.
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Posted: Sat May 23, 2009 12:53 pm
She smiled and nosed him. "And although they might want cubs of their own, I'm hoping that showing them how much trouble they really are will set that goal a bit farther back for the two girls," she added carefully. After all, that was some of the best birth control: show a girl a baby and she'll coo and aw and play with it, but when the time comes, she'll give it back, for she does not want one then.
Especially if said girl watches a birth. Oh, that'll take it right out of 'em.
"Yes, I suppose so." Auri glanced up at the sky and then smiled wickedly at her mate. "If we both want cubs, then, we'd better get started in preparation for them.." she trailed off as she rose to her feet, shook herself lightly, and trotted away towards their den.
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Posted: Sun May 24, 2009 9:52 pm
"Scare it out of them?" he asked with another laugh, "Planning like that might easily backfire on us, you know. Be careful what you hope for." It wouldn't surprise him if they failed to see the.. possible downsides to the process for them. He and Auri obviously saw no downsides to it, would they focus on that or the actual trouble they might have trying to care for a cub themselves? Well, they would see.
"I suppose so," he mimicked thoughtfully, smiling as he got to his feet. He paused outside, looking around him and taking in the peace and quiet. If they had their way, it wouldn't last. With a nod to.. no one, really, he finally followed after Auri.
Fin.
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